Here is the thread for the last regular season week of our Cincinnati Bengals player pick 'em contest.  In a change of format, I'm posting earlier and requesting at least four people to rec this thread so it will stay up all week and I can dispense with that messy "reminder" temp thread.  Please also mosey on over here and vote on when you want this game season to end.  Anyway, to see the full write-up of the original rules see here.  Last week's scoring results and a summary of the rules are repeated below the jump.  Here are the current score standings:

1 – FriarBob – 119 pts
2 – brandone – 108 pts
3 – The Dealio – 87 pts
4 – ZJiff30 – 85 pts
5 – CincyMike56 – 82 pts
6 – Richard L – 74 pts
7 – supergrover – 72 pts
8 – Deisel2405 – 60 pts
9 – Danimal – 56 pts
10 – Vman in Germany – 54 pts
11 – Mr. X – 52 pts
12 – jsl413 – 50 pts
13 – featherman – 49 pts
14 – WHYUS!! – 44 pts
15 – Carsonorbust – 43 pts
16 – Bengals FTW – 36 pts
17 – Kabash – 32 pts
18 (tie) – ritalin – 28 pts
18 (tie) – Purple City Middie – 28 points
19 – Greener’s eyes – 20 pts
20 – IFChris – 19 pts
21 (tie) – JohnnyK – 15 pts
21 (tie) – indesignkat – 15 points

This week we clinched the AFC-N.  And we did it on our own despite Baltimore losing.  Those are great words to be able to type.  And again, at least at times, our boys played like they really wanted to win this game.  A few other times it was a bit questionable, but when it really mattered most they buckled down and said "no no, this is OUR game, you go find another one to try to win".  That too is a step in the right direction.

Well up next we have our first (and possibly only, depending on how the playoffs work out) primetime game of the season, with the New York Jets, who apparently have decided that they don't want to be eliminated from the postseason just yet after all.  We also get to close out Giants Stadium and with the absolute shellacking of the Giants yesterday it would be nice to turn around and lay yet another beat down on a NY team to make them rush the demolition of the place to the max possible.  It's probably not likely, of course, but it's a nice fantasy, no?  Especially after they let me down against Atlanta.  Twerps.  You were supposed to win that game so that the Falcons couldn't break their streak of never having back-to-back winning seasons.  For that alone you deserve to have your butts kicked.  And on national TV no less, all the better.  Then again, losing to screw over Pittsburgh also has great appeal as well.  Decisions, decisions...

Time to place your bets.  Pick your player to hang your hat on, and best of luck to all.

The scoring recap post from last week is repeated here as well:

Well it looks like quite a few of us were expecting a better offensive performance against the Chiefs. Frankly, I wanted one, but I’m not really all that surprised that we didn’t get one. But we got enough to get the job done. I suppose that will have to do. And hey, at least we finally got around to securing a playoff spot. Better late than never, right?

I would also like to extend quick apologies to Kabash for getting his points total correct but his ranking incorrect. That will be corrected this week.

Time for the scores. With 16 participants the maximum "uniqueness" score is 15 points. The following players scored points by the rules of the game: Laveranues Coles, Chad Ochocinco, Leon Hall (x2), and Chinedum Ndukwe (x2). And it looks like for once everybody listed was picked by somebody, so no wasted points this week.

Here is our weekly scoring only:
featherman – 30 points (Leon Hall)
brandone – 30 points (Chinedum Ndukwe)
ZJiff30 – 15 points (Laveranues Coles)
FriarBob – 13 points (Chad Ochocinco)
Purple City Middie – 13 points (Chad Ochocinco)
Mr. X – 13 points (Chad Ochocinco)

This leaves us with an twelve week leader board of:
1 – FriarBob – 119 pts
2 – brandone – 108 pts
3 – The Dealio – 87 pts
4 – ZJiff30 – 85 pts
5 – CincyMike56 – 82 pts
6 – Richard L – 74 pts
7 – supergrover – 72 pts
8 – Deisel2405 – 60 pts
9 – Danimal – 56 pts
10 – Vman in Germany – 54 pts
11 – Mr. X – 52 pts
12 – jsl413 – 50 pts
13 – featherman – 49 pts
14 – WHYUS!! – 44 pts
15 – Carsonorbust – 43 pts
16 – Bengals FTW – 36 pts
17 – Kabash – 32 pts
18 (tie) – ritalin – 28 pts
18 (tie) – Purple City Middie – 28 points
19 – Greener’s eyes – 20 pts
20 – IFChris – 19 pts
21 (tie) – JohnnyK – 15 pts
21 (tie) – indesignkat – 15 pts

If you see any problem with the scoring above please speak up ASAP.

If you haven't played yet, here is a brief recap of the rules:

1) Pick one player (Make it easy on me, make him the title of your post.  Both first and last name please.) who is NOT officially listed as a QB, P, or PK on the roster.
2) An offensive score is worth one point per participant who did not pick your player.
3) A defensive player is worth 3/2/1 point per participant who did not pick your player based on if he 3) actually scored, 2) gained possession of the ball for the team but didn't actually score, or 1) allowed the Bengals to gain possession by causing a fumble (or blocking a kick) that another Bengals player recovered.  Sacks or tackles behind the line of and by themselves are not worth anything unless they are a strip-sack (1 point if we recover) or they are also a safety (3 points).
4) You score the maximum possible points for your player but only one time.  So a defensive player who forces an opponent's fumble that Cincinnati recovers and recovers another opponent's fumble at a different point in the game is worth 2x points (not 3x cumulative).
5) Keep commentary to the bare minimum please.
6) Predictions on how they will score are not required, and if you provide one they don't net you any bonus if you are right nor do they detract if you are wrong (so long as they do actually score by game rules).
7) Try to be original yet still pick somebody you think has a realistic chance to score or cause a turnover.
8) Only ONE (1) player entry per contestant, per week is allowed.
9) Deadline for player entries each week is THIRTY (30) minutes prior to kickoff.